BAYAN LEPAS, February 4 — Tourism Malaysia celebrated the launch of the first direct flight from Shanghai to Penang by Spring Airlines (9C), marking a key milestone in enhancing air connectivity between China and Malaysia.
The daily Airbus A320 service, with a capacity of 186 passengers, aims to cater to growing leisure and business travel demand while supporting Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) by attracting more Chinese visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial history, street art, and culinary offerings.
The inaugural flight, arriving at Penang International Airport around 2.30 pm, was officiated by Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, alongside Penang EXCO for Tourism Wong Hon Wai, and senior representatives from Spring Airlines and the airport.
Tourism Malaysia highlighted that this new air link not only facilitates seamless travel for Chinese tourists but also strengthens bilateral economic and cultural ties, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination and supporting ongoing efforts to increase international visitor arrivals and tourism expenditure.
